Encroaching Wastes MTG Card
2013-07-19 - Number 227
2020-11-20 - Number 481
2002-06-24 - Number 51932
2014-01-01 - Number 4
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Land |
Text of card
: Add to your mana pool., , Sacrifice Encroaching Wastes: Destroy target nonbasic land.
Every world is a work in progress, constantly reshaped by time, disasters, and even the powerful magic of Planeswalkers.
Cards like Encroaching Wastes
Encroaching Wastes is a utility land that has found its niche in Magic: The Gathering with its ability to destroy target nonbasic land at the cost of four mana and its own sacrifice. Its closest parallel is the card Ghost Quarter, which also destroys any land but allows the land’s controller to replace it with a basic land from their deck. This subtle difference highlights Encroaching Wastes’ capacity to permanently remove strategic lands without replacement, a key differentiator.
Another card worth mentioning is Field of Ruin, which balances out Encroaching Wastes’ targeted destruction with a requirement for each player to search for a basic land, thus ensuring both gain equal footing after the destruction. Field of Ruin’s forced land search can sometimes indirectly benefit opponents, while Encroaching Wastes provides a more controlled approach to land removal.
Moreover, Tectonic Edge also shares similarities with Encroaching Wastes, but it comes with restrictions based on the number of lands the opponent controls. While Tectonic Edge can be a more cost-effective option, Encroaching Wastes offers land destruction without such constraints. In essence, Encroaching Wastes stands out with its straightforward and unconditional approach to hindering opponents’ land-based strategies in the game of Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Encroaching Wastes by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Encroaching Wastes. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Jund Control | Legacy | Charlotte Legacy League Season 1 Week 3 | |
 | Gruul Land Destruction | Pioneer | Gruul Land Destruction | Pioneer Preliminary 2023-12-05 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Encroaching Wastes card gives players the unique advantage of directly targeting and destroying an opponent’s nonbasic land. This strategic dismantling can lead to card advantage by potentially depriving an opponent of crucial mana sources and disrupting their gameplay.
Resource Acceleration: Although Encroaching Wastes itself does not directly provide resource acceleration, it helps to slow down an opponent’s acceleration by removing potent lands from play. This equalizing effect can prove invaluable in matches where land-based strategies are pivotal.
Instant Speed: While Encroaching Wastes operates at sorcery speed, its ability to be activated during your own main phase allows players to carefully manage their mana and maintain the open resources for instant speed responses during the opponent’s turn. This versatility ensures that Encroaching Wastes can be used at the most opportune moment while keeping up the pressure on the opponent’s land base.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Encroaching Wastes, while there is no direct discard requirement, the self-sacrifice mechanic of the card essentially replicates a discard, as you forfeit the land itself. This can put you at a disadvantage by reducing the number of lands you control, potentially hindering your mana acceleration and overall board presence.
Specific Mana Cost: Although Encroaching Wastes requires only colorless mana to activate its ability, its initial casting cost and activation cost necessitate a total of four mana. This inflexibility means it might not easily fit into mana curves, especially for decks that prioritize speed and efficiency over control.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The activation cost of Encroaching Wastes is comparatively high for a land destruction ability. At four mana to destroy a single nonbasic land, players might find that other options, such as Ghost Quarter or Field of Ruin, provide similar functionality at a lower cost, possibly without the downside of sacrificing the land being used.
Reasons to Include Encroaching Wastes in Your Collection
Versatility: Encroaching Wastes stands out for its ability to seamlessly integrate into a variety of decks. With its land destruction capability, it is especially valuable in strategies seeking to manage or deny opponents’ mana bases.
Combo Potential: This card can play a critical role in land-destruction combos, particularly in conjunction with cards that allow lands to be played from the graveyard. Its potential to recur can hamper the opponent’s progress significantly.
Meta-Relevance: In a meta where nonbasic lands form the backbone of many decks, Encroaching Wastes gains relevance as an equalizer. As games become more complex and land-dependent, having access to targeted land removal can be a game changer.
How to Beat
Encroaching Wastes stands out as a unique land card within the vast expanse of MTG’s universe. Its primary strength lies in its ability to disrupt the tempo of the game by directly targeting nonbasic lands, which are often integral to a player’s strategy. This land comes with a cost, requiring the sacrifice of itself and four other mana to activate its land-destructive ability.
To effectively navigate the potential setbacks Encroaching Wastes can cause, consider diversifying mana sources and including basic lands in your deck construction. This reduces the impact Encroaching Wastes may have on your game plan. You can also employ cards that grant land indestructibility or those that allow you to recover lands from your graveyard to your hand or directly into play.
Moreover, keeping a watchful eye on the board state and being prepared with countermeasures, such as instant-speed land protection or counterspells, could negate the Wastes’ effect, preserving your vital land assets. Flexibility and preparedness in your deck-building and gameplay can ensure that this land’s disruptive power doesn’t turn the tides against you.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Encroaching Wastes MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic 2014, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Encroaching Wastes and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
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Printings
The Encroaching Wastes Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2013-07-19 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 51932 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | ||
| 2 | 2013-07-19 | Magic 2014 | M14 | 227 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley | |
| 3 | Friday Night Magic 2014 | F14 | 4 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Richard Wright | ||
| 4 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 481 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Noah Bradley |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Encroaching Wastes has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |